Prestige Cars: Jaguar F-type Convertible Review

Prestige Cars: Jaguar F-type Convertible Review

By Libby Foster
25-08-2022

Fancy leasing a Jaguar F-type?

Even though Jaguar now has a foundation of sensible saloons and SUVs, the Jaguar F-Type Convertible demonstrates that the company hasn't forgotten its roots. Even though Jaguar now has a foundation of sensible saloons and SUVs, the Jaguar F-Type Convertible demonstrates that the company hasn't forgotten its roots. After all, the F- Type's name is a gentle nod to 1960s sports cars like the awe-inspiring E-Type. It, too, was accessible as a solid-roofed coupé or a drop-top roadster, with no back seats and a focus on performance, style, and the sound of the roaring engine.


With the roof down on the F-Type Convertible, your senses are subjected to the deafeningly brutish engine sound of this car's supercharged 5.0-litre V8 versions. It provides high-speed thrills that few cars can match. And, unlike some competitors, the F-Type Convertible only has two seats in the back. To match the F-Type's performance while carrying more than one passenger, you'll need a BMW 8 Series Convertible or a Porsche 911 Cabriolet. So, does the Jaguar F-Type Convertible raise the bar for top-down thrills? Let’s find out together.


Driving the Jaguar F-type Convertible

The least powerful engine available is the most popular one for the Jaguar F-Type Convertible surprisingly. The P300 is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder with only rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly but occasionally slowly. Although some hot hatchbacks can give the F-Type the impression that it is moving quickly, it needs to work remarkably hard to live up to its full potential. Even with the occasional pop and crackle when you back off the accelerator, the exhaust note is somewhat dreary. Overall, the P300 cannot stand out in its price range due to the abundance of strong competitors.


The 5.0-litre, 444-bhp supercharged V8 engine in the P450 is our favourite F-Type engine. It accelerates more quickly and powerfully than the 2.0-litre engine, keeping you firmly planted in your seat while emitting a growling exhaust note that develops into a guttural roar as you approach the red line. The P575 is a variation of the same V8 engine that is only available in the F-Type R and has even more force behind it. You can match the acceleration of some supercars thanks to its 567 bhp, but that's only if you want to show off. 


Jaguar F-type Convertible Luxury Interior

Sports seats with six-way electronic adjustment and heating are standard on the base model Jaguar F-Type Convertible R-Dynamic. The 12-way electronically adjustable ones that are standard with R-Dynamic Black and R versions are what we'd be tempted to upgrade to. For added comfort and support, those seats have adjustable lumbar support and additional bolstering.


The cockpit is divided into driver and passenger zones by a central grab handle, but the interior is mainly designed with the driver in mind. The clear digital driver display provides important driving information in a font size that is helpfully large and clear. Although the low seating position is appropriately sporty, it does slightly reduce visibility, so when parking, you'll find yourself relying on the front and rear parking sensors as well as the rear-view camera that come as standard equipment.


The 10.0in touchscreen on the Jaguar Touch Pro infotainment system is easy to use, but it takes some getting used to the menu options. It lags far behind BMW's brilliant iDrive system with a rotary controller and doesn't react to inputs as quickly as Porsche's system.


Jaguar F-type Convertible Space 

Although the Jaguar F-Type Convertible has a low roofline, you would need to be extremely tall to have your head brush the roof due to the low-mounted seats. Legroom is also not a problem because of how far the seats can be moved back. Even though the driver and passenger are seated quite far apart, the wide centre console gives the interior a cosy feeling. The only storage options are a small glovebox and a shallow storage bin in the centre console. The bin is large enough to hold a wallet and a phone, but that's it. The door bins aren't much deeper, either, and each can only hold a 500ml bottle of water.


When you compare the boot of the Jaguar F-Type Convertible to the Jaguar F-Type Coupé, you'll notice how much smaller it is, but it's comparable to the Porsche 718 Boxster and other rivals. Large items will not fit, but there is plenty of room for golf clubs or a couple of carry-on suitcases.


Fortunately, you don't end up losing any boot space when the roof is down in the F-Type; instead of a bulky folding metal roof, Jaguar has used a fabric hood that can be opened or closed electrically in just 12 seconds while driving at speeds of up to 30mph.


Conclusion 

The Jaguar F-Type Convertible is an enticing possibility, particularly with the gloriously loud V8 under the hood. It looks fantastic, has a thrilling speed, and handles well on a winding road. Even then, it's not as good or as enjoyable to drive as its main sports car rivals, so we'd recommend the Porsche 718 Boxster instead.


At MWVC, we provide a range of Jaguar F-Type Convertible prestige car leasing offers to suit every driver's requirements for finding the ideal vehicle for themselves or their business. So, whether you're looking to lease a car for business use or personal use, our knowledgeable sales team can assist you in finding the greatest price. Still not sure if a prestige car lease is the best option for you? One of our representatives will be pleased to assist you if you call 0116 490 4113.


Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with all our latest offers.


*All pricing is correct at the time of publishing